Feature: Housepits

East Goat Rock Camp4 bedrock mortars and a probable housepitElevation 1451 ft.We’d hiked around and through this area a number of times, but it took Jeff’s sharp eyes to find this beautiful site. A picturesque seasonal creek flows nearby in a rocky channel.Looking over the main mortar rock toward Alameda Creek. A protected basin lies […]

Long Canyon and Marsh Creek36 bedrock mortars, 29 on one rock.The location of this site near the mouth of Hog Canyon meant that this was a “gatehouse” settlement guarding one of the principal routes into the Volvon heartland. This was one of the bedrock mortar sites known to early 20th century Contra Costa County historians.This […]

Windmill Overlook, Central22 bedrock mortars; housepitsElevation 1380 ft.From this ridge one can see and hear the windmills from the Altamont Pass wind farms.Alien creatures stalk across Ssaoam land..Looking toward the site..Two of the mortar rocks here.There are several housepits at this site..The rocks here provide some shelter from the prevailing winds. Note the volvano-shaped mortar […]

El Sobrante La HondaMidden and probable village site.Elevation 134 ft.Joel strikes again.The house probably sits on top of a village site, perhaps one those along San Pablo Creek marked on Sherburne Cook’s map of East Bay Indian villages.Midden soil.

Los Vaqueros Pond Village130 bedrock mortars and 4 slicks.CA-CCO-461Elevation 642 ft.The pond here is often dry. Nearby Adobe Creek would have provided year-round water to this village.Jim among grinding rocks and housepits.A view of the streamside terrace on the south bank of Pond Village Creek. At least three mortar rocks are visible in this photograph. […]

Windmill Overlook, Lower20 bedrock mortars and several housepits spread along the base of a rock ledge.Elevation 1355 ft.Looking out on the Livermore Valley.Afternoon shadows creep across the land as Bob walks below the rock ledge.A two-mortar rock. Note the elliptical upper section of the funnel mortar.Photograph by Bob Bardell.

First Terrace31 bedrock mortars, a 23 cupule rock, and 3-4 housepits.Elevation 775 ft.This site and the Kitchen site are actually on the same terrace, separated by a creekbed, but because we discovered and named the Kitchen site first, we called this site the “First Terrace.”A view of the First Terrace. The cupule rock is near […]

Lower Volvon Village200 bedrock mortars and a 32 cupule rock. A second cupule rock also at the site. Numerous housepits.Elevation 1445 ft.This is one of the largest collections of bedrock mortars in California, and it is only about a mile and a half away from the main Volvon Village.The Lower Village sits on the side […]

Green’s Village in Fig Pig Gulch75+ bedrock mortars; housepits.Elevation 716 ft.Jeff discovered this beautiful village on a Thanksgiving morning (!) reconnaisance hike. A great find, Jeff. The village extends over a wide area, and, like the Volvon Village, could be viewed as a collection of separate sites. We prefer the holistic view. About half the […]